NBA Midweek Specials: Hawks and Bucks our picks

Tue, Oct 23, 10:33am by Staff Writer

NBA action continues on Thursday with two matches on ESPN Australia. After one week of action its Toronto, Milwaukee and Detroit who are unbeaten in the Eastern Conference. In the Western Conference the Nuggets, Blazers and Pelicans are yet to register a loss.

Dallas Mavericks at Atlanta Hawks

Thursday, 25 October 2018 at 10am at State Farm Arena, Atlanta

The Hawks have waited more than a week for their home opener and will have a good chance of notching up consecutive wins when they host Dallas on Thursday.

Atlanta is 1-2 on the season after blowout losses at New York and at Memphis to start the season.

They were $5 underdogs at Cleveland on Monday and toppled the Cavs 133-111 behind a 22 three-pointers and a stunning 35-point game by number five draft pick Trae Young.

The Hawks point guard is certainly playing with plenty of confidence early in the season and will be up against Dallas’ Dennis Smith Jnr on Thursday.

Dallas recorded its first win of the season on Sunday with a 140-136 win against Minnesota. The Wolves were resting the disgruntled Jimmy Butler, but the Mavs overcame giving up 46 points in the first quarter to win by four points.

Dallas has its own promising young talent in reigning Euroleague MVP Luca Doncic.

After a shaky start against the Suns, he tallied 26 points on 50 per cent shooting for Dallas.

The Mavs are 0-1 on the road this season.

Neither of these teams are expected to feature in the playoffs, with the Mavs $326 to win the NBA Championship and Atlanta even longer at $501.

Look for the Hawks to get away to a good start and keep the Mavs at bay. Dallas has yet to prove itself on the road and young teams often struggle in road games.

Atlanta will have three days off since playing Cleveland, while the Mavs will be travelling after a home game against Chicago.

Take the Hawks at the handicap if its less than 4.5 points, or check out the first quarter handicap for some early value.

Best bet- Atlanta Hawks at the handicap

Philaelphia 76ers at Milwaukee Bucks

Thursday, 25 October 2018 at 12:30pm at Fiserv Arena, Milwaukee

The sparkling, new Fiserv Arena in Milwaukee is thrust into the national spotlight on Thursday as the Bucks host the Sixers.

Under former Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer, the Bucks are undefeated this season.

The Bucks did little in terms of off-season recruiting, opting to build around a core that features All Star Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Milwaukee’s wins so far have come as they have been favourites and we expect them to open that way again on Thursday.

Milwaukee is fourth in the line of betting to win the Eastern Conference and priced at $101 to win the NBA Championship.

Philadelphia has had a mixed start to the season. It lost to Boston on opening night and then routed Chicago two nights later.

A last gasp win against Orlando on Saturday came at a cost, with Australian point guard Ben Simmons leaving the game with a back injury.

His status for Thursday’s game against the Bucks is unknown and should he be out, the Bucks will be short priced favourites.

Philadelphia is 0-1 on the road this season, while the Bucks are 1-0 at home.

The Sixers made the second round of the playoffs last season and are $19 to win the NBA Championship.

They are joint second favouites to win the Eastern Conference at $4.20.

With Simmons’ status unclear, check out team lineups before betting on this one, but the Bucks should have too much for Philly regardless.

There is likely to be value in the margin markets and backing Milwaukee to win by 1-10 points at home against another elite team would be the play.

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